On Jan. 23, Martin Luther King Day, the Waldorf School of Garden City hosted the fourth annual Erase Racism Student Leadership Forum.

More than 50 students from Long Island high schools gathered to learn about the racial injustices that have been present in our own communities and backyards for years.

The participants watched a short film entitled “The Difference Between Us” – an historical documentary about how scientists have tried to categorize people by race and use race as a way to prove the strengths and faults of human beings in areas ranging from running speed to mental intellect.

From the film, they also learned how race was used to justify slavery and other social injustices. After lunch, we continued to my personal favorite activity; breaking into small discussion groups that mixed all of our schools. Within these groups, we were asked whether we agreed, disagreed or “were-on-the-fence” with various statements about race. This activity encouraged everyone to voice and to explain their own opinions as well as debate and understand opposing views with other students.

Located on Cambridge Avenue, adjacent to the Adelphi University campus, the Waldorf School of Garden City is a college preparatory day school teaching early childhood through Grade 12.